Post Office Horizon scandal victims to lastly have names cleared below new legislation

Hundreds of unjust postmaster convictions secured by “discredited” prosecutors will lastly be struck off below new legal guidelines, a minister has stated.

Kevin Hollinrake, who’s answerable for postal affairs, stated the inquiry into the Horizon IT scandal has recognized stunning behaviour by prosecutors. He promised laws to exonerate a whole bunch of individuals wrongly convicted shall be introduced ahead “shortly” – however didn’t specify when.

He stated victims could have their convictions quashed below a set of “clear and objective criteria”. Mr Hollinrake stated in a press release: “The Horizon inquiry has heard evidence of the egregious behaviour of the Post Office’s investigatory practices. It is therefore proportionate that the Government legislates to quash these prosecutions where the prosecutor is, in effect, discredited.”

He stated the brand new laws will cowl prosecutions carried out by the Post Office, whereas Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) instances that relied on Horizon proof may even be reviewed. Two CPS convictions have already been overturned, Mr Hollinrake acknowledged. However Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) instances is not going to be included as the bulk “relied on physical evidence”.

Accepting the necessity for urgency, Mr Hollinrake stated: “With a number of the cases over 20 years old, some of the victims have sadly passed away, and many others are in declining health or have lost faith in the system and do not wish to engage further with it.”

His assertion went on: “The legislation, which will be brought forward shortly, will quash all convictions which are identified as being in scope. That scope will be defined by a set of clear and objective criteria which will be set out in the legislation and will not require any element of discretion or subjective analysis in order to be applied.”

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